TUTORIAL: Cloverleaf Chain Garland

I got in a few hours this weekend creating and DIYing thanks to the push from Michaels stores CRE8TIME challenge, yahoo! How did you do? If you don't remember, Michaels' challenged me and a few other bloggers to spend one hour a day creating for 8 days in order to reclaim our creativity in this busy world (and you can join in the fun too, just click here!). 

I've got to tell you that I feel like I'm in such a better mood during the day knowing that I have mindfully set aside just one hour for me to create.  The best thing about this weekend was that I actually got to get an hour in during the morning on Saturday as Oliver was napping and my older 3 were busy creating themselves by making birthday cards for their friends (we had a lot of birthday parties to attend this weekend so they were busy for quite awhile!)

One thing checked off my list was some fun St. Patricks's day decor for our home. And can I get a WOOT WOOT for completing another project from start to finish, that has got to be the best feeling in the world, right!  

Now I don't have a whole lot of decor for this holiday for some reason but this year Noah really wanted to get in on the fun, he is waaaay into Leprechauns right now...checking every book out of the library that he can. So, I decided to get creative with my Fiskars Heart Punch and turn those tiny little heart shapes into sweet green cloverleafs which I connected via thread to make a fun chain of garland. It was so easy, I tell you...SO easy!

Cloverleaf Chain Garland

Fiskars Heart Punch
Scissors
Scrap book paper (I used various shades of green)
Coordinating green thread
Sewing machine

First, take your Heart Punch and punch out a few sheets of scrapbook paper worth of hearts.  I used scissors to cut each sheet of paper into strips to maximize my hearts!

You will need three hearts per cloverleaf.  I laid mine out like this (above) right next to the needle of my sewing machine and sewed right down the center of the cloverleaf.

Then just continue to add cloverleafs every couple of inches until your garland is long enough for your liking.

P.S. Make sure you give yourself a tail of thread at the beginning and end of your garland for hanging!

Then just find a little nook, entranceway, or maybe even a frame to hang them on...or in!

So pretty and easy!  I was able to whip out a whole bunch of these chain garlands to place all over our house in about an hour...I think we are ready for St. Patrick's Day now! 

If you are joining me in my CRE8TIME challenge I'd love it if you'd share what you created over at the CRE8TIME gallery, here.  It's pretty fun browsing through so much creativity!

Thanks for stopping by today!

XOXO,

**I have been compensated for this post. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.  This post contains paid links.

TUTORIAL: How to Make Paper Cloverleafs

Did you know that the Craft and Hobby Association recently launched a new campaign called CRE8TIME which is dedicated to helping all of us reclaim our creativity?  One of my favorite craft stores, Michaels, has joined this movement and asked me and a handful of other rad bloggers to participate in their CRE8TIME Challenge, cool yo! We have been asked to spend an hour a day crafting for 8 consecutive days...I can totally do that...I think! :-)

                                          

Y'all know I love crafting...sewing...DIY....I LOVE it all.  And I often get asked, 

'how do I find the time to be creative when I have 4 little ones running around at my feet?'  

Well...I love creating because it makes me feel relaxed and calm, in other words, it centers me.  And since that is a feeling I REALLY need in this season of my life I try my hardest to make time to do it--usually it's at the end of the day when the kids are in bed but it's my time to create nonetheless plus it's quite so there is no one up to disturb me...Bonus! 

Trying to find an hour EVERY day for this challenge has been challenging, I will admit that.  It seems somedays we are on the strictest of schedules with many mornings filled with running to and from gymnastics classes, swim lessons, bible studies, playdates, and then home to feed everyone lunch before kindergarten and preschool start.  Then it's a race to get Oliver down for a nap so he can be up in time for preschool pick-up all the while I'm trying to get laundry done, dinner prep ready, and clean the house to some degree...ahhh, 4 kids schedules plus my own sounds a bit crazy, right? It totally is somedays for sure, but even though that makes this challenge of creating an hour a day difficult it is also soooo nice to have one hour carved out each day just to create and do something fun...for me!

One of the projects I created in an hour, really, seriously, just ONE hour! Was a Paper Cloverleaf Garland.  Y'all know I love decorating for every holiday known to mankind and this was the perfect bit of crafty fun to do in an hour's time.  It is easy enough to do, you don't even need any crazy crafting tools! Just scrapbook paper (Michaels has a HUGE assortment!), scissors, and a stapler...then just relax and in no time you can create a fun holiday garland for your mantle or door :-)

Paper Cloverleaf Garland

8 1/2 x 11 inch scrapbook paper
scissors
stapler
twine for hanging

First off, grab a stack of fun colored scrapbook papers for your cloverleafs.  I chose different shades of green but really any fun designs will do!  I used 8 1/2 x 11 inch pieces of paper, you could also use the 12 x12 sheets but I really liked the size of the cloverleafs that the smaller sheets made.

Take one sheet of scrapbook paper and fold it in half the long way.  Then using your scissors, cut approximately 1-inch strips from the folded paper.

You should have quite a few 1-inch wide folded strips of paper measuring 5.5 inches in length each.

Then take one strip and fold it backwards on the fold of the paper (picture 1). Connect the two ends (picture 2) and staple them together (picture 3) so you get a nice puffed up heart shape. Keep doing that with your folded strips of paper, leaving a few strips that you will cut on the fold and use as the cloverleaf stems.

To construct a cloverleaf you will need 3 hearts and one 5.5 inch strip of paper.  Take two hearts and place them side by side so that the pointed tips at the bottom are touching. Staple together.  Do this one more time so that all three hearts are connected to one another but two of them are still not stapled together.

To add the stem to your cloverleaf you will place the 5.5 inch strip of paper in between the two hearts you have not yet stapled together.  Pinch the two hearts around the 5.5 inch strip of paper and staple into place.

And there you have it!  A cute and simple paper cloverleaf :-) 

P.S. I bent my stem just slightly at the bottom to give it a more 'real' look.

You can continue to make cloverleafs so that you have enough to make a garland of them.

Then just staple them together side by side, like so.

One festive Paper Cloverleaf Garland just perfect for celebrating St. Patrick's Day!

I'll be back next week to share some more of the fun projects that I plan to accomplish while I challenge myself to create for one hour a day thanks to the CRE8TIME Challenge.

If you want to take the challenge to reclaim your creativity with me, click here to read more about it!

Thanks for stopping by today!

 XOXO,

** I have been compensated for this post. However, all opinions are truthful and my own.  This post contains paid links.

Crockpot Corned Beef and Coleslaw-RECIPE

St. Patrick's Day is coming up at the end of the week and that means something I look forward to eating this time every year...Corned Beef!  I love corned beef in the form of a thick and hearty corned beef sandwich complete with coleslaw, melted swiss cheese, and toasted rye bread.  Drippy, delicious goodness if you ask me :-)  

I was looking through my recipe archives and couldn't believe I haven't shared these recipes with you yet, whaaat?  So to make this St. Paddy's day dinner a breeze for you here is my go-to easy peasy crockpot corned beef recipe with super simple coleslaw...set it and forget it, for reals.  

Crockpot Corned Beef

1 3-4 lb corned beef brisket

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 bottle of beer (dark if you have it) or 1 can of beef broth

Corned beef seasoning packet (usually included with the brisket)

Place the corned beef brisket in your crockpot and pat the brown sugar and seasoning packet over top of it.  Pour the bottle of beer or can of beef broth into the crockpot and place lid on.  Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours.  

Easy Peasy Coleslaw

1 package of coleslaw mix

2/3 cup mayonnaise

3 tbsp vegetable oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp dried minced onion

1 tbsp vinegar

dash of salt

Place the coleslaw mix into a large bowl.  In another small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, vegetable oil, sugar, dried minced onion, vinegar and salt.  Pour over top the coleslaw mix and combine well.  Place in the refrigerator so the flavors can meld together for a few hours before eating.  Coleslaw will produce more liquid as it sits so do not worry that there is not enough wet ingredients when mixing together!

Alrighty, so to make the Crockpot Corned Beef you will need a beer.  Or a can of beef broth if you are gluten-free.  Your choice, both work perfectly!

You will also need 1/2 cup of brown sugar and the seasoning packet the comes with the corned beef!  Place the corned beef, brown sugar, seasoning packet, and beer (or beef broth) into your crockpot with the lid on and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.  That's it.  I told ya it was easy :-)

To make the coleslaw, you will need a bag of coleslaw mix.  You can find this near the prepackaged lettuce in the produce section of your local grocery store.

You will also need 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 2/3 cup of mayonnaise, and 3 tablespoons of veggie oil...

Mix the above in a small bowl with a dash of salt, 1 tablespoon of minced onion, and 1/2 cup of sugar.

Oooh, creamy!

Pour over top your coleslaw mix and refrigerate for a few hours before you eat.  

I just make it after I put the corned beef in the crockpot and have it sitting in the fridge all day.  It tastes sooo good by dinnertime!

When your corned beef is done it will be nice and stringy, like this!  Tell me how good does this look!!

Now to make a super awesome corned beef sandwich you will need some rye bread.  Toast it up in your toaster or oven.  Then add a piece of swiss cheese, your delicious corned beef, a huge scoop of coleslaw and then smoosh it all together...YUM!

Seriously delicious!

Happy (early) St. Patrick's Day to you!

XOXO,

Reverse Color St. Patrick's Day Knot Wreath-TUTORIAL

I finally took down my Valentine decor the other day, well on our front door at least, I still really like looking at all the hearts on my walls and windows :-)  I'm sure those will be coming down soon and I have to say I'm a bit surprised that Eloise hasn't ripped more off the wall but for now I think the remaining few will stay put for a few more days at least.  So with a bare door staring me in the face, I decided to make a fun and colorful wreath for St. Patricks day, you might remember the clothesline wreath I made a couple years ago here, I still love it's simplicity but thought this year I would go with some bright and fun colors,  basically 'think spring'.  We could use some color in this blah winter we've been having.

I made a simple knot wreath using grosgrain ribbon, my favorite ribbon to play with.  Is it weird that I have a favorite ribbon type/style?  Craft nerd alert!  I package up all my Etsy shop orders with a pretty chocolate grosgrain ribbon, it's one of my favorite parts of the completed look and one of the first things you see when you open your special package, ahhh love!

Anyways, back to the wreath.  Since St. Paddy's day is pretty much green and gold in coloring I thought I would spice this wreath up by reversing the prominent color palette.  I think this way it will work well going into the Spring season in case I forget to change out the front door decor by then!  Always thinking ahead, lol!

Color Reversed St Patrick's Day Knot Wreath

1 circular foam wreath form (mine was 11.5 inches in diameter)

3 rolls of yellow 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon (7 yards)

1 roll of lime or green 5/8 inch grosgrain ribbon (7 yards each)

pair of scissors or rotary cutter and mat

I love simple projects and this one is just that!  Just pick two fun colors of ribbon and in a matter of minutes you will have yourself a lovely wreath to spice up your front door.

Cut your ribbon into 13 inch strips...

Tie each piece of ribbon onto your foam wreath form and double knot it fairly tight so it doesn't slide around too much.  Continue this same process until your wreath is full and beautiful.

I used all 4 rolls and just went to town while the kids and I read books one afternoon.  It definitely helps to have book holder helpers and page turners otherwise maybe a game of 'eye spy' would do the trick!

If you are wondering how I hung this to my door, I  took a 5 inch remnant of ribbon from an empty spool, threaded it through the back of one of the tied ribbon loops near the top center, and tied it into a small loop.   Easy peasy lemon squeezy :-)

Then go and hang it on your front door and enjoy the happy colors!!

XOXO,

Shamrock Rice Krispies Treats

So, the weather around here has been a bit on the gray and rainy side lately. I think Spring is officially here. I don't know about you but I have a love/hate relationship with Spring. I love that it means winter is over. Rain means it's warm enough to melt all the snow. Green grass is starting to show all over the neighborhood. And, I can get my garden going soon, very soon!

I hate, well maybe I should say I strongly dislike that even though you can see the green grass, walking on it provides to be muddy, mucky and mushy...YUCK! Mud on my shoes and mud all over my kids and their clothes is just no good. Mud being tracked in my house by my kids and our doggie is even more of a dislike. And rain...you aren't snow which is good but you make my naturally curly hair a mess...no fun, especially when I cut it in a style that looks much nicer straightened....aargh!

On another Spring related note, I am working on getting the felt blueberry muffin and liner tutorial up but this gray weather has been no good for picture taking. If you'll forgive me, I'll try to have it up by Monday, crossing my fingers now for more sunshine :)

As for today, it has been one beautiful day so far, no rain and weather warm enough that all we needed to play outside was our vests...I love vests!! The kidlets and I made good use of this morning by getting out of the house nice and early and playing outside. Then, a playdate and a trip to the library...and all before naptime...woo hoo! I made this for the our playdate today:

Isn't it cute? A four-leaf clover made out of Rice Krispie Treats...yum! It was super easy to make. Just make a batch of Rice Krispie Treats, add 1/4 tsp of green food coloring to the marshmallows and once all mixed up let cool in a 9 x 13 inch pan. Then, take a heart-shaped cookie cutter to them. Easy Peasy!

If you play your cards right you can get two four-leaf clovers and stems out of one batch...rock on! Just enough for a nice-sized play date of hungry little leprechauns. And the best thing is that you already have them pre-cut for serving...everyone gets their own heart. Sweetness!

Ahhh, finding two Four-Leaf Clovers...

How Lucky!